Anytime is a great time to get out the blender and treat your friends to a frozen concoction we commonly call a smoothie or shake. Smoothies differ from juices in that generally in a smoothie, the whole fruit or vegetable is mixed into the drink. Not only are smoothies a fun addition to the menu, but they can also be packed with foods known to help you feel better if you're living with inflammation pains. The following are the best smoothies you can make to keep your inflammatory disease in check.

Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells. One of the hallmarks of autoimmune diseases is chronic inflammation. Inflammation in our bodies is usually a normal biological process that helps us respond to injury or irritation.

However, when normal inflammation does not go away and becomes chronic, it no longer benefits our body. Inflammation can make your joints and body tissues feel stiff and painful.

The most common types of these inflammatory diseases are:

· Multiple sclerosis

· Rheumatoid arthritis

· Giant cell arteritis.

· Systemic lupus erythematosus

· Vasculitis

· Ankylosing spondylitis

Anti-inflammatory foods

Fortunately, there are some foods that are known to fight inflammation naturally. Using these foods for healing is not a new idea, but recent science allows us to understand exactly how the substances in some foods work to make us feel better.

The best anti-inflammatory shakes for autoimmune diseases

The following foods are easy to find in your grocery store and add great benefits to anti-inflammatory shakes that you make especially for your autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis. Just add everything to the blender, grind, serve and drink immediately.

Turmeric to reduce inflammation

Turmeric is the Indian spice that gives curry its yellow flavor. It has a long history of use to treat inflammatory conditions. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin may have the potential to treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, certain types of cancer, and arthritis. Turmeric is easy to find in the spice section of your grocery store and makes a great addition to a morning smoothie. With turmeric you can make the best anti-inflammatory smoothies.

Ginger, turmeric and carrot smoothie

· 1 cup vanilla almond milk

· 1/2 cup of carrot juice

· 1 frozen banana (peel before freezing)

· 1 teaspoon fresh ground or grated ginger

· 1 teaspoon fresh ground or grated turmeric

· 1/2 cup of frozen mango

· 1/2 orange, peeled

Anti-inflammatory green smoothie with turmeric

· 1 frozen banana

· 1 handful of arugulas

· 1 handful of spinach and kale

· 1/2-inch fresh ginger root, peeled

· 1 1/2 cups of coconut water and / or green tea

· 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric powder or 1/2-inch fresh turmeric root

· 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· vegan and gluten-free protein powder optional

Pineapple with anti-inflammatory benefits

Pineapple can not only transport our senses to the tropics, it is also known to help with inflammation. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain and has been used to treat arthritis, soft tissue injury, colon inflammation, chronic pain, and asthma. The natural sweetness of pineapple is an excellent ingredient for smoothies.

Surprise tropical smoothie

· 1 cup of coconut milk

· 1/2 cup of frozen pineapple

· 1/2 cup of frozen mango

· 1/2 of a frozen banana (peel before freezing)

Anti-inflammatory smoothie with kale and pineapple

· 3 - 4 kale leaves stemmed

· 1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen

· 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced

· ½ banana

· 1 cup of coconut water

· 1 teaspoon fresh ground or grated turmeric

Probiotics to give your anti-inflammatory shakes a bonus

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to our health. They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects when included in our diet. The most popular probiotic food is yogurt made with cow, goat or sheep's milk, however, for your condition it is recommended that it is not a yogurt with dairy. You can use soy or coconut.

Yogurt can thicken smoothies and also add incredible flavor. Yogurt quality can vary, so choose a high-quality, sugar-free yogurt. You can also use probiotic powders that you can find good quality in health food stores.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

· 1 cup milk of choice

· 1 cup unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt

· 1 frozen banana

· 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter

· 1 tablespoon of honey (optional)

Purple passion smoothie

· 3/4 cup coconut or almond milk

· 2 cups purple